Swab-making machine



L.. PEZZA June 17, 1969 SWAB-MAKING MACHINE Sheet Filed Sept.

A Z R Z O E T P N E O V R N A I Z Z A L ATTORNEY June 17,1969 1.. PEZZA 3,449,796

SWAB-MAK I NG MACH INE Filed Sept. c, 1966 INVENTOR r 72 LAZZARO PEZZA BY 72 w I L. PEZZA June 17, 1969 SWAB-MAKING MACHINE She et Filed Sept.

INVENTOR. LAZZARO PEZZA ATTORNY June 17, 1969 L; P Z A 3,449,796

SWAB-MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1966 FIG. 8'

Sheet 4 of 6 INVENTQR. LAZZARO PEZZA @mQM ATTORNEY June 17, 1969 L. PEZZA SWAB-MAKING MACHINE Sheet Filed Sept. 6, 1966 INVENTOR.

LAZZARO PEZZA.

ATTOR'NEY June 17, 1969 PEZZA 3,449,796

SWAB-MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1966 I N VENT OR.

United States Patent U.S. Cl. 19-1453 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swab-making machine for enwrapping and forming tufts of suitable material such as relatively loose fibrous material on the ends of swab sticks wherein the machine has a rotatable knotted carriage member having a plurality of receptacles for receiving individual sticks in each of the receptacles. Power means are connected to the carriage member for imparting rotational motion thereto and swab stick supplying means are provided for introducing individual swab sticks into each of the receptacles on the carriage member. Swab stick rotating means is engageable with the swab sticks in the receptacles for imparting rotational motion thereto in order to enwrap the tufts of material on the ends of the swab stick. Shaping means is engageable with the tufts of material enwrapped on the ends of the swab sticks for forming the tufts of material into the desired configuration. A material feeder adjacent the carriage member positions a continuous strand of material for a periodic removal of tufts of material therefrom to be enwrapped from the ends of the swab stick. Tuft-positioning means is movably mounted adjacent the carriage member and is engageable with the strand of material positioned by the material feeder for tearing a tuft of material therefrom. The tuft-positioning means is movable to position the tuft of material adjacent the receptacle on the carriage member for enwrapment on the end of a rotating swab stick as the sticks aremoved past the tuft-positioning means by the carriage member prior to engagement with the shaping means. Second power means is connected to the tuft-positioning means to move the tuft-positioning means generally between the material feeder and the receptacles on the carriage member.

This invention relates to swab-making machines and more particularly to a machine for automatically applying tufts of fiberous material such as cotton to the ends of individual sticks and forming these tufts into the desired configuration.

In the manufacture of cotton tip tufts, it is highly desirable to have an automatic machine that can attach tufts of cotton of uniform size to one or both ends of a swab stick at relatively high rates of speed in order to economically produce such a product. It is also desirable that such a machine should be relatively inexpensive and have relatively simple operating parts for inexpensive operation and repair. Many of the previous machines for making swabs have been relatively expensive to manufacture, difiicult and costly to operate and repair, and frequently fail to apply tufts of a uniformed size resulting in an undesirable product.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic swab-making machine for uniformly applying tufts of fiberous material such as cotton to the ends of swab sticks. g

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a swab-making machine that has a novel mechanism for positioning and rotating the swab sticks for enwrapment by tufts of fiberous material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel tuft positioning apparatus for tearing off uniform tufts from a continuous strand of fiberous material and position- "ice ing the tufts adjacent swab sticks on a swab-making machine.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a swab-making machine which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and economical to operate and repair.

Further objects and features are set further in greater detail in the following specifications taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially schematic side elevation view of the swab-making machine of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tuft-positioning mechanism, the tuft shaping die and the material feeder of the swab-making machine of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the shaping member illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the tuft-positioning mechanism of the swabmaking machine of FIGURE 1 placing a tuft of material in position for engagement by a swab stick before entering the shaping die.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the swab stick and a portion of the tuft of material entering the shaping die.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating the tuft of material released from the tuft-positioning mechanism and enwrapped on a swab stick within the shaping die.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the tuft-positioning mechanism and other operating parts of the swab-making machine of FIGURE 1 in the open locked position after a tuft of material has been enwrapped on the end of a swab stick.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating the tuft-positioning mechanism as it is being positioned adjacent the material feeder.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating the tuft-positioning mechanism in the closed position engaging a strand of fiberous material positioned by the material feeder.

FIGURE 10 is a top view of the tuft-positioning mechanism in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation view of the tuft-positioning mechanism taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 showing the operating parts of the tuft-positioning mechanism.

The swab-making machine of this invention for enwrapping and forming tufts of relatively loose fiberous materials such as cotton on the ends of swab sticks has a rotatably mounted carriage member with a plurality of receptacles for receiving individual swab sticks in each of the receptacles. Power-means is provided connected to the carriage member for imparting rotational motion thereto for positioning the swab sticks for enwrapment by tufts of fiberous material. Swab sticks supply means is positioned adjacent the carriage member for introducing individual swab sticks into each of the receptacles as the carriage member is rotated by the power-means. Swab stick rotating means engageable with the swab sticks in the receptacles is provided for imparting rotational motion thereto in order to enwrap tufts of fiberous material on the ends of the swab sticks. Shaping means such as a shaping die is mounted adjacent the carriage member for engagement with the tufts of material enwrapped on the ends of the swab sticks for forming the tufts of material into the desired configuration such as the conventional teardrop shape. A material feeder mounted adjacent the carriage member positions a continuous strand of the fiberous material so that tufts may be torn therefrom for enwrapment on the ends of the swab sticks. Tuft-positioning means is mounted adjacent the carriage member and is engageable with the strand of fiberous material positioned by the material feeder for tearing tufts of material therefrom. The tuft-positioning means is movable to position the tufts of material adjacent the receptacles on the carriage member for enwrapment on the ends of rotating swab sticks as they are moved past the tuft-positioning means by the rotating carriage member prior to engagement with the shaping means. Additional power means are connected to the tuft-positioning means for moving this mechanism generally between the material feeder and the receptacles on the rotating carriage member.

In the illustrated embodiment the carriage member has a generally circular cross section with a width less than the length of the swab sticks, and the receptacles are formed on the circumferential periphery of the carriage member so that the end portions of the swab sticks extend beyond the receptacles generally parallel to the rotational axes thereof for engagement with tufts positioned by the tuft-positioning means.

The swab stick rotating means in the preferred embodiment is a rotatable member having a generally circular cross section and which is mounted substantially on the same plane as the carriage member with a portion of its circumferential surface engaged with the swab sticks in the receptacles for imparting rotational motion thereto. Power-means is desirably connected to the rotatable member for imparting rotational motion thereto in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 for imparting high rotational speed to the swab sticks in the receptacles on the carriage member for efiicient enwrapment with the tufts of fiberous material.

The tuft-positioning means has a pair of opposed jaws pivotally mounted on a support means for tearing off tufts of cotton and for holding the tufts of material for enwrapment on the swab sticks. Operating means is movably mounted on the support means with engageable portions operable to move the jaws into the open or closed position. Biasing means are provided on said support means and connected to said operating means to position the jaws in the closed position for gripping the tufts of material. Actuating means are provided engageable with the operating means to move the jaws in the open position against the force of the biasing mean sin order to periodically release a tuft of material from said jaws for enwrapment on the ends of a swab stick in one of said receptacles. Latch means is mounted on the support means and is engageable with the operating means for holding the jaws open when so positioned by the actutaing means. Latch release means are positioned to release the latch means when the jaws are moved adjacent the material feeder to close the jaws in order to tear a tuft from the strand of material. Reciprocating means are connected to the support means for moving the tuft-positioning means between a location adjacent the material feeder to a location adjacent the receptacles for enwrapment of the tuft on a rotating swab stick.

In the illustrated embodiment, the operating means has a pair of sliding members engageable with a pair of camming surfaces on the jaws for positioning these members in the open or closed position.

Although the swab-making of this invention may be used to make swabs having tufts of cotton on one end of the swab stick, it is also possible to have the tufts of cotton enwrapped on opposite ends of the swab sticks by adapting the receptacles to position individual swab sticks so that opposite ends thereof extend outwardly from both sides of the receptacles generally parallel to the rotational axis of the carriage member so that a pair of shaping means, material feeder, and tuft-positioning means may be located on opposite sides of the carriage member to enwrap tufts of material on opposite ends of the swab sticks.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a swab-making machine having a housing with a drum shaped carriage '12 which is rotatable on a driving shaft 14 mounted suitably on the housing 10.

Power means (not shown) drives the shaft 14 and carrier 12 in a conventional manner. The carriage 12 has a plurality of spaced peripheral receptacles 16 each adapted to receive a swab stick 18 which are introduced into the receptacles 16, by a swab stick supply means in the form of a hopper chute 20 containing a plurality of the swab sticks 18. The carriage 12 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1, and the swab sticks 18 are processed while in the receptacles 1.6 into cotton swabs in a manner to be described hereinafter. After processing, the swabs are removed from the receptacles 16 before passing the chute 20 by receiving means (not shown). Thus, the receptacles 16 passing the chutes 20 are empty and receive a new supply of swab sticks 18 on each revolution of the carriage 12.

Rotatably mounted on the housing 10 by means of an L-shaped arm 22 and a shaft 24 is a swab stick rotating disk 26 which engages the swab sticks 18 in the receptacles 16 for rotating these members therein as the swab sticks 18 pass the point of contact with the disk 26. The disk 26 is rotated by a belt 28 driven by a pulley wheel 30 rotatably mounted on the arm 22 by a shaft 27 which is driven by conventional power means (not shown).

A continuous strand of cotton 32 enters the swabmaking machine through a tube 34 where it is engaged by a cotton feeder, generally designated by the numeral 42, having a shaft 44 rotatably mounted on the housing 10, which has a knurled member 46 on on end thereof which engages the continuous strand of cotton 32 and rolls the strand against a guide 48 adapted to position the strand for engagement by a tuft positioning means, generally designated by the numeral 40.

The tuft positioning means 40 is reciprocally mounted on the housing 10 by means to be described hereinafter, and descends to a position adjacent the cotton feeder 42 as illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 where it is actuated to tear a tuft 50 from the continuous strand of cotton 32 positioned by the cotton feeder 42. The shaft 44 is periodically rotated by an actuating means (not shown) for positioning the end portion of the strand 32 for engagement by the tuft-positioning means 40. The tuft-positioning means 40 then rises to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 where the cotton tuft 50 is located for an engagement by a swab stick 18 in a receptacle 16 on the rotating carriage 12. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, as the swab stick 18 rotates within the receptacles 16, the carriage 12 moves the swab stick 18 into contact with the cotton tuft 50, and as the swab stick 18 continues to rotate, to one end of the tuft 50 commences to wrap around the end of the stick 18 due to the friction between these parts. As this occurs, the stick 18 enters a die or shaper, generally designated by the numeral 52, which forms the cotton tuft 50 into the usual teardrop configuration.

The shaper 52 is fixedly mounted on the housing 10 and has a conduit 54 with an orifice 56 for applying a predetermined quantity of water or glue on the cotton tuft 50 through a curved aperture 55 so that it may be readily formed to the desired configuration within the shaper 52 and firmly adhere to the stick 18. An elongated forming slot 58 is provided in the shaper 52 for passage of the end of the sticks 18 with the cotton tufts 50. The bottom-wall portion 60 of the shaper 52 has a contoured portion 62 upon which the cotton tuft 50 is rolled to give it the desired teardrop configuration. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, when the stick 18 and the cotton tuft 50 has entered the forming slot 58, the tuftpositioning means '40 releases the cotton tuft 50, which then passes through the forming slot 58 on the sticks 18 in contact with the shaping portion 62 and out of the shaper 52 after it has been rolled into the desired teardrop configuration.

The tuft-positioning means 40 has a base plate 70 with a pair of jaws 72 pivotally mounted on a pair of pivot pins 74. In order to open and close the jaws 72 for engaging a tuft 50, camming slots 76 are provided in each of the jaws 72 and have actuating pins 78 disposed therein which are attached to a sliding operating member, generally designated by the numeral 80 which is slidably mounted on the base plate by means of a bolt 82 which is disposed in an elongated slot 84 in the operating member 80. A spring 86, surrounding a guide rod 88, is engaged on one end with a block 90 mounted on the base plate 70 and its opposite end engages and biases the operating member outwardly towards the jaws 72 tending to position the jaws 72 in the closed position. The operating member 80 has a T-shaped member 92 fixedly attached thereto having a notch 94 for engagement by a spring loaded latch 96 pivotally mounted on the block by means of a pivot pin 100 which is biased downwardly toward the surface of the T-shaped member 92 by a leaf spring 98 also mounted on the block 90. An actuating means in the form of a bifurcated operating lever 102 is pivotally mounted on the housing 10 by means of a shaft 104 and is adapted to engage the arms of the T-shaped member 92 to move the operating member 80 against the bias of spring 86 so that the jaws are moved from the open to the closed position by the pins 78 engaged with camming slots 76. As the lever 102 moves the operating member 80, the notch 94 is moved into position for engagement by the latch 96 thereby locking the jaws 72 in the open position.

The tuft-positioning means 40 is reciprocally mounted on the housing 10 for periodic movement between the cotton feeder 42, as illustrated by the position shown by FIGURE 9, to a position adjacent the shaper 52 as illustrated in FIGURE 7. FIGURE 8 illustrates the tuftpositioning means 40 in an intermediate position between that shown in FIGURE 9 and that shown in FIGURE 8.

In order to translate the tuft-positioning means 40 between positions adjacent the cotton feeder 42 to a position adjacent the shaper 52, an operating mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 110, has an elongated rod 112 pivotally mounted on the base plate 70 by means of a pivot pin 114 on one end thereof, and has a pivotally mounted roller 116 mounted on a shaft 118 on its opposite end. The roller 116 is engaged with an eccentrically shape-d cam 120 which is rotated 'by a drive means (not shown). A bolt 122 is rigidly connected to the mid-portion of the rod 112 and has a tension spring 124 with one end attached to the bolt 122 and with its opposite end fixed to the housing 10 by fastening means (not shown) so that the rod 112 and the roller 116 are constantly biased against the cam 120. As the eccentric cam rotates it imparts reciprocating motion to the roller 116 and rod 112, so that the base plate 70 reciprocates up and down on the pair of posts 126 rigidly mounted on the housing 10.

In operation when the cam 120 is rotated to lower the rod 112 and base plate 70 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 9, a latch release 128 engages a knob 130 on the latch 96 releasing the operating member 80 so that the spring 86 biases the operating member 80 and the jaws 72 into the closed position to engage a tuft 50. As the cam 120 continues to rotate it is configured to cause the rod 112 and the base plate 70 to rise and tear the tuft 50 from the continuous strand 32 so that the tuft 50 -is positioned, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, adjacent the shaper 52. As the swab stick 18 engages a tuft 50, the operating lever 102 is pivotedby an automatic means (not shown) to move the operating member 80 and the jaws 72 to the open position illustrated in FIGURE 6 where the latch 96 engages in notch 94 to hold the operating member 80 and the jaws 72 in the open position. Continued rotation of the cam 72 repeats the same cycle so that the swab stck 18 in the next receptacle 16 is enwrapped with a cotton tuft 50 in the same manner.

Thus, the present invention provides an automtic swabmaking machine that has a novel mechanism for applying tufts of fiberous material such as cotton to the ends of swab sticks. The novel tuft positioning mechanism efficiently positions tufts of cotton for engagement with swab sticks which are rotated by a novel swab-making machine which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to operate and repair.

It will be understood that the foregoing description with the details of exemplary structure is not to be construed in any way to limit the invention, but that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A swab-making machine for enwrapping and forming tufts of suitable material such as relatively loose fiberous material on the end of swab sticks comprising:

a rotatably mounted carriage member having a plurality of receptacles for receiving individual sticks in each of said receptacles;

rotating means connected to said carriage member for imparting rotational motion thereto;

swab-stick supplying means for introducing individual swab sticks into each of said receptacles on said carriage member;

swab stick rotating means engagable with the swab sticks in said receptacles for imparting rotational motion thereto in order to enwrap the tufts of material on the ends of the swab sticks;

shaping means engagable with the tufts of material enwrapped on the ends of the swab sticks for forming the tufts of material into the desired configuration;

a material feeder adjacent said carriage member positioning a continuous strand of material adjacent tuft positioning means for periodic removal of tufts of material therefrom to be enwrapped on the ends of the swab sticks;

said tuft-positioning means being moveably mounted adjacent said carriage member and engagable with with strand of material positioned by said material feeder for tearing a tuft of the material therefrom, said tuft positioning means being movable to position the tuft of material adjacent said receptacles on said carriage member for enwrapment on the end of a rotating swab stick as the sticks are moved past said tuft positioning means by said carriage member prior to engagement with said shaping means; and

second operating means connected to tuft positioning means to move said tuft positioning means generally between said material feeder and said receptacles on said carriage member;

said tuft positioning means having movable support means;

a pair of opposed jaws pivotally mounted on said support means for tearing olf a tuft from said material and for holding the tuft of material for enwrapment on a swab stick;

operating means movably mounted on said support means having engaging portions operable to move said jaws in the open or close position;

biasing means on said support means operable to move said operating means to position said jaws in the closed position for gripping a tuft of material;

actuating means engagable with said operating means and movable to position said operating means and said jaws in the open position against the force of said biasing means in order to release a tuft of material from said jaws for enwrapment on the end of a swab stick in one of said receptacles;

latch means mounted on said support means and engagable with said operating means for holding said jaws open when so positioned by said actuating means;

latch release means positioned to release said latch means when said jaws are positioned adjacent said material feeder to close said jaws for tearing off a tuft from the strand of material; and

reciprocating means connected to said support means for moving said turf positioning means between a position adjacent said material feeder to a position adjacent said receptacles;

said movable support means being reciprocated vertically from a position adjacent said material feeder to a position adjacent said rotating swab stick wherein the tuft of material is released by said jaws when said stick engages said tuft.

2. The swab-making machine of claim 1 wherein said operating means has a pair of sliding members engageable with :a pair of camming surfaces on said jaws for positioning the jaws in the open or closed position.

3. The swab-making machine of claim 1 wherein said carriage member has a plurality of receptacles each adapted to position individual swab sticks so that the opposite ends thereof extend outwardly from said receptacles generally parallel to the rotational axis of said carriage member; and wherein said shaping means, material feeder and tuft positioning means are located adjacent said carriage member to enwr-ap and form tufts of material on the ends of the swab sticks.

4. A tuft positioning apparatus for use with a swabmaking machine to tear tufts of material from a strand of relatively loose fiberous material extending from a material feeder and for positioning the tufts of material for enwrapment on the ends of a swab stick positioned by a swab-making machine comprising:

a housing;

movable support means;

reciprocating means mounted on said housing and connected to said support means for moving said support means between a position adjacent a strand of loose fiberous material extending from a material feeder to a position adjacent the ends of swab sticks on a swab-making machine; and

tuft-positioning means mounted on said support means and engagable with a strand of loose fiberous material extending from .a material feeder for tearing a Fit tuft of material therefrom when positioned adjacent thereto by said reciprocating means, said tuft-positioning means being movable by said reciprocating means to position the tuft of material adjacent the end of a swab stick on a swab-making machine for enwrapment on the end of the swab stick, said tuftpositioning means being operable to release the tuft of material as it is enwrapped on the end of a swab stick, said tuft-positioning means a pair of opposed jaws pivotally mounted on said support means for tearing off a tuft from said material and for holding the tuft of material for enwrapment on a swab stick;

operating means movably mounted on said support means having engaging portions operable to move said jaws in the open or closed position;

biasing means on said support means operable to move said operating means to position said jaws in the closed position for gripping .a tuft of material;

actuating means mounted on said housing engagable with said operating means, said actuating means being movable to position said operating means and said jaws in the open position against the force of said biasing means in order to release a tuft of material from said jaws for enwrapment on the end of a swab stick positioned by the swab-making machine;

latch means mounted on said support means and engagable with said operating means for holding said jaws open when so positioned by said actuating means; and

latch release means on said housing positioned to release said latch means when said jaws are positioned adjacent the material feeder to close said jaws for tearing off a tuft from the strand of material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,576,068 11/1951 Ganz l9l49 2,618,027 11/1952 Barber et a1 19-1453 3,090,080 5/1963 Pellicone et a1. 19-145.3

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner. 

